Guest Blog: Mike Wedderburn

Mike Wedderburn is a presenter on Sky Sports News - he is also a massive Blue, as he explains in the third of our celebrity guest bloggers...

There was some dismay that we only drew against Liverpool last Sunday but I like to think that could be the point that wins us the title. I’m absolutely not giving up on the boys at all and let’s not have short memories and remember what happened last season.

There’s still a long way to go and yes, United have a nine-point lead, but they have Champions League football to come and could easily slip up along the way, starting with Everton this Sunday. If we beat Southampton, the gap is down to six – we know we will beat them at Old Trafford – so that’s just three points we’d need to make up. The title is absolutely on!

I’d love to see us win the FA Cup, too – I’d settle for the Double this season. The feeling after beating United in the semi-final two years ago and then actually going on and winning the cup was unbelievable. Even better, we got to take that banner down. It was a very special, amazing day and I want some more of it.

When I’m presenting on Sky Sports, I can’t help but show my true colours. Everyone knows I’m a proud Blue and while I wouldn’t put any other team down, everyone knows where my loyalties lie.

If I’m doing a story on City, the production team will confirm that when the cameras move off me and it is good news or a goal, I’m waving my fist around in the air, quietly celebrating. It’s a brilliant job but it can be tough if we’ve lost and you have to paint on the smile but I love it – as well as reminding the Reds I work with who the champions are.

There are a lot of United fans at Sky but I try not to talk to them if I can help it.

I was at the Etihad for our final game against QPR last season and I was told to take my suit with me because if we won, they wanted me to do the Premier League trophy parade around the city for Sky. Obviously we did and we celebrated along with everyone else but one of the guys from the office called to tell me I had to find this clip of 30 seconds where United think they’ve won the title – then realise they haven’t – before I went on air the next day. I did and it was fantastic!

I think Martin Tyler was superb that day and his commentary as Aguero scored the winner was technically brilliant and the work of a true professional. It would have been very easy to go too early and then had nowhere to go, but he timed it beautifully and he was able to raise the intensity at exactly the right time. Every time I see it I get emotional. Genius.

I’ve supported City since I was a little lad and people often ask why because I was born in Portsmouth and neither of my parents liked football. For some reason, when the results came on at the weekend, I attached myself to City and would sulk if we lost – things just went from there.

I did go and watch Portsmouth for a while when I got a bit older but never felt any empathy towards them because I’ve always loved City.

My wife and I are seasoncard holders and we come up as often as we can so my message is keep the faith. We just need to get near enough to United to worry them and it will be ours. Trust me!